Covid-19 in Cumbria update: Infections drop but rate of decline slowing, more test centres open and vaccine update

Overall new infections drop, but rate of decline may be slowing

The number of new COVID-19 infections in Cumbria continued to drop in week ending 19 February, down 24% from the previous week (555 compared to 728).

Allerdale, along with Barrow and Copeland, continue to have infections rates above the England average of 120/100,000. While some districts saw small increases, more recent data from this week has confirmed these to be related to specific outbreaks rather than indicative of a general increase.

The number of new patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 decreased from the previous week in both North Cumbria Integrated Care (NCIC) and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMB) by -19% and -31% respectively.

For week ending 12 February there were sadly a further 74 registered deaths mentioning COVID-19.

The weekly COVID-19 situation report (for week ending February 19) is published at: www.cumbria.gov.uk/stopthespread.

It shows:

• There were 555 new cases in Cumbria (a decrease of 173, -24%, from 728 cases in the previous week);
• Allerdale overtook Copeland in having the greatest number of new cases (+150 new cases);
• Barrow-in-Furness overtook Copeland in having the highest rate of new cases (172 new cases per 100k population);
• Rates in Barrow-in-Furness, Allerdale and Copeland were above the national average rate (England = 120 new cases per 100k population);
• New cases decreased from the previous week in all Cumbrian districts except Barrow-in-Furness and Allerdale;
• In Barrow-in-Furness and Allerdale cases increased by 15% and 3% respectively;
• The 45-54 age group accounted for the greatest number of new cases in Cumbria, followed closely by the 25-34, 55-64 and 35-44 age groups;
• There were decreases in new cases in all age groups in Cumbria, except the 0-4 and 12-18 age groups which experienced small increases;
• The greatest proportional decrease was seen in the 85+ age group, where new cases decreased by 72% from the previous week.

Learn more

'Keep following the guidance'

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said: “This week the Prime Minister announced the roadmap for exiting lockdown. I welcome that but we must all recognise that we still have high infection rates, well above those of last summer, and we cannot just assume that infections will continue to fall. “They will only fall if we keep following the guidance and don’t act as if lockdown has already been lifted. This is a critical point and the Prime Minister has been clear that restrictions will not be eased if the data does not support it. That’s why we all must keep going for a while longer and get infection rates right down.”

Live Q&A with Colin Cox

The Director of Public Health for Cumbria is teaming up with CumbriaCrack.com to host his next COVID-19 Facebook Live event.

The event is an opportunity for the public to hear the latest update on the COVID-19 response in Cumbria and ask questions. People can watch and participate by visiting www.facebook.com/cumbriacrack on Tuesday 2 March at 7pm.

Around 400 people have joined previous live events, asking a very wide range of questions.

People do not need a Facebook account to watch the event, but do need one if they wish to ask a question.

More lateral flow test centres open

Essential workers who cannot work from home now have more ways to access regular COVID-19 Rapid Result Lateral Flow testing with eleven testing sites now open in Cumbria.

Last week five testing sites opened in Carlisle, Aspatria, Kendal, Penrith, and Millom.

This week, six additional sites have been been opened in Barrow in Furness, Dalton, Milnthorpe, Sedburgh, Workington and Whitehaven.

Lateral Flow tests give a result in 30 minutes and help identify asymptomatic carriers, people who do have COVID-19 and are infectious but are not ill. These people can then self-isolate to protect others.

The testing sites are open to any essential workers who cannot work from home and come into regular contact with other people through their job, and who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. The tests are free and no booking is required, but please note the sites are only open at the times stated.

People who do have symptoms of coronavirus should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. They should not attend a Lateral Flow Community Testing Site.

Testing sites in Allerdale:

• Aspatria: Beacon Hill School, Market Square, Aspatria, Wigton CA7 3EZ - Saturdays 09:15 - 12:30
• Workington: Workington Academy, Stainburn Rd, Workington, CA14 4EB - Mondays 17.15 – 19.30 and Thursdays 17.15 – 19.30

Read more

Government publishes 'roadmap' 

Earlier this week the Government published it's 'roadmap' of how it plans to ease the Covid-19 restrictions currently in place. Click the image below to see more details and the further steps that have been announced.

Who is being vaccinated next?

The NHS is prioritising vaccinating those that experts have agreed will benefit from having it the most, as they are at most risk. From Monday 15th February, people in cohorts 5 and 6 are being invited by the NHS to have their vaccine. These are: • Cohort 5 - all those 65 years of age and over • Cohort 6 - all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality • Unpaid carers, including those in receipt of carers allowance, are also part of cohort 6 and are part of primary care’s roll out. The NHS will be working with relevant partner organisations to ensure that the vaccine is delivered to unpaid carers as part of the cohort. ​​​​Local GP vaccination services will be calling in both cohorts. See the latest information from the North Cumbria CCG by clicking the link below. Vaccine info

'Help us to help you'

Helena Gregory, Pharmacy and Medicines Lead at NHS North Cumbria CCG had recorded a special video to provide an update on how you can help your local NHS with Covid vaccinations in north Cumbria.

Watch video

Covid-19 business grants

We've recently updated our webpage detailing all the help currently available for businesses.

For all those wet-led pubs that have yet to apply for the Christmas Support Payment, they should do so now as the deadline is 28 February. More details on this, and all the financial help for businesses can be found by clicking the image-link below.